MG
Moderator
Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. said September sales rose 1.5 percent to 197,260 vehicles, with strong light-truck volume -- led by the Tacoma -- offsetting weak car demand.
Toyota Division sales rose 2.4 percent to 170,719 as its car sales fell 7.7 percent to 81,555 and truck sales gained 14 percent to 89,164. Scion vehicles were merged into the Toyota badge beginning in August.
“Industry sales remain in line with last year’s record levels,” said Bill Fay, general manager of Toyota Division, in a statement.
Lexus, Toyota’s luxury brand, posted a 2 percent increase in sales, to 25,801 vehicles. Car sales slid 20 percent to 10,097 while truck sales rose 24 percent to 15,704.
Sales of the Corolla compact car were the lone bright spot for Toyota Division cars, increasing 15 percent to 32,272. Deliveries of the Camry midsize sedan were down 11 percent to 30,707, and sales of the Prius hybrid slid 23 percent to 12,475.
The brand’s pickup sales jumped 28 percent to 25,230, driven by the Tacoma, which was up 35 percent to 15,723. Tacoma sales had been down for four consecutive months before September because of short supply; however, recent investments in production have allowed Toyota to catch up with demand, Fay said in a call with reporters. Starting in late 2017, the automaker will invest $150 million in its Tijuana, Mexico, plant to increase its output of Tacoma trucks by 60,000 annually.
“We’re largely a product of what we’re able to build,” Fay said.
Toyota-badged crossovers and SUVs climbed 13 percent to 54,665 in September, with strong performances by the Highlander, up 21 percent to 14,937, and 4Runner, up 21 percent to 9,058. Sienna minivan sales fell 12 percent to 9,269, and Sequoia SUV sales dropped 21 percent to 907.